SPECTATORS who went out to enjoy an airshow today ended up helping a rescue effort after a pilot plunged into the sea.

A plane crashed into the bay during the popular air show sparking rescue effort

Bystanders were left heart-in-mouth at the event in Herne Bay, Kent, on Sunday as a pilot dumped his aircraft into the water.

Swimmers appeared rooted to the spot in photographs as the aircraft landed right in front of them.

Witnesses say the light aircraft went into the water off the coast at 3.30pm and flipped upside down.

Bystanders rushed into the water to try to save the pilot who was pulled from the wreckage which was amazingly dragged to the beach.

The pilot, a man aged in his 70s, only received minor injuries despite the unexpected landing.

He was taken to hospital as a priority.

Kent_999s

Terrified swimmers were rooted to the spot when a plan plunged in water in front of them

There are thousands of people here. It was quite shocking

Witness

One onlooker said: "It just went into the water from a fairly low height and then flipped over."

Another said: "It looked like it was going to crash, but went into the water instead.

"It doesn't look like the pilot was hurt. Members of the public got the pilot out and then dragged the plane onto the beach.

"There are thousands of people here. It was quite shocking."

Police, ambulance crews, firefighters and the air ambulance all rushed to the scene following the crash landing. A Kent Police spokesman said:

"At 3.36pm on Sunday 14 August Kent Police received a call stating that a light air craft had come down into the sea near Sea View Road in Herne Bay.

"Officers are at the scene with partner agencies including the South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb), HM Coastguard and The Royal National Lifeboat Institution. "The pilot is being assessed by Secamb at the scene.